How I Lasted Five Months In South America On $14 A Day

Looking back at my career, the most important decision I've made so far – the one that would set me up for practically every job I've held over the last five years – was to turn down a job offer after college.

We were just beginning to feel the heat of the Great Recession, and journalism jobs were few and far between. The flagship paper in my home state just laid off half its staff, and the entire business looked like one big dead-end.

Somehow, I wound up with an offer from a local newspaper anyway. It was a good one, too, one that would surely keep me fed and with a roof over my head while I launched my career.

But I was antsy. I wasn't ready to throw myself behind a cubicle and commit myself to the 9 to 5 grind just yet.

It was with careful consideration and great regret, I wrote in an email to the editor, that I would be turning down the job offer.